Protective garment

ABSTRACT

A one piece protective garment has a single vertical opening ( 3 ) closable by high strength clasp fasteners secured to the fabric of the garment ( 5 ) by high strength twine. Selected areas of the garment is reinforced by extra layers, e.g. of high tenacity/NYLON.

[0001] The invention relates to a protective garment and in particular to one for use in a damp or wet environment, for example, by fishermen, lifeboat men and mariners generally. It is one object of this invention to provide a protective garment, typically a suit, which is not only resistant to the elements, but is particularly safe and convenient to use in the hazardous conditions experienced at sea, rivers, canals and the like.

[0002] According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a protective garment made of a fabric comprising at least one polyester fibre, the garment having at least one openable and closable portion sealable by high strength clasp fasteners, the fasteners being connected to the adjacent fabric by high strength fibre whereby a belt may be avoided.

[0003] According to the invention in a specific aspect there is provided a protective garment made of a fabric comprising at least polyester fibre; at least one selected portion of the garment comprising the polyester fibre and a high tenacity nylon to reinforce the fabric in that portion; at least one selected area of the garment including an anti-piling fleece for the comfort of the wearer in that area; the garment having at least one openable and closeable portion, high strength sliding clasp fasteners for opening and closing that opening, the fasteners being connected to the garment by high strength fibre.

[0004] Because the garment is made of high strength materials it is not only resistant to the elements, but very durable. Because the high strength sliding clasp connectors, i.e. zips, are secured to the garment by high strength twine they cannot be detached from the garment. Preferably the super strength zips are secured to the garment in the opening areas using super strength porous twine. Such twine will have a breaking strength of the order of 200 kgs breaking strain. Because such fasteners are present there is no need for a belt which typically has projections on which nets of the type used by a fisherman can snag. (It is known that fishermen have come to harm by being caught on nets which snag on the buckle of a belt).

[0005] The garment may be in one piece with a single vertical opening bridging a jacket portion and a trouser portion. The garment may be a jacket connectable to trousers by a horizontal opening. A hood may be present and may also be detachable using such a zip system.

[0006] The polyester fibres provides a breathable but water resistant fabric having high mechanical strength. The polyester fibre is preferably about 300 denier. High tenacity Nylon is preferably present in the portions defining the lower front and the jacket portion of the garment and the rear lower part. It provides strength and extra resistance to stop the polyester fibre in these portions from being damaged. The two fibres may be overlaid one over the other or they may be interwoven. A preferred high density Nylon fibre is available from DU PONT under the registered trade mark CORDURA.

[0007] Anti-piling fleece is present on the inside of the polyester fibre on the upper part of the jacket portion for comfort in the front and rear chest areas.

[0008] In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only in respect of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is the front elevation of a fisherman wearing a suit of the invention: and

[0010]FIG. 2 is the rear elevation.

[0011] The suit comprises a one piece garment having an upper jacket portion 1 and a lower trouser portion 2. The suit is made of fabric comprising polyester fibre. The garment has a single opening (covered by a flap 3) which is closed by a high strength zip (not shown) which is held in place using high strength twine having a breaking strength of at least 200 kgs. The twine is very robust and will resist a force to break open the suit once it has been closed. A belt is thus avoided and this has the advantage that there is no buckle on which fishermen's nets or the like can snag.

[0012] The lower back area 4 and the front knee portions 5 are covered by overlying portions of CORDURA®, an air textured high tenacity NYLON available from DuPont. These portions may be made by uniting the polyester fibre and the NYLON.

[0013] The lower arm and leg portions are closed by VELCRO® fasteners 6 and a hood 7 is present.

[0014] Although not shown an anti-piling fleece is present on the inner surface of the garment to cover the front and rear chest areas.

[0015] As shown, the garment is suitable for a fisherman, but the invention is applicable to any sort of survival suit where the wearer is exposed to hard environmental conditions. Thus it may be used as an immersion suit, a worksuit, a submarine suit and a diving suit. 

1. A protective garment made of a fabric comprising at least one polyester fibre, the garment having at least one openable and closable portion sealable by high strength clasp fasteners, the fasteners being connected to the adjacent fabric by high strength fibre whereby a belt may be avoided.
 2. A garment according to claim 1, in the form of one piece garment having a jacket and trouser portion.
 3. A garment according to claim 1 of 2, wherein the openable and closable portion extends generally vertically when the garment is worn.
 4. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the high strength clasp fasteners are secured to the fabric by high strength twine.
 5. A garment according to claim 4, wherein the twine has a breaking strength of at least 200 kg.
 6. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the fabric comprises a breathable water resistant polyester fibre.
 7. A garment according to claim 6, wherein the polyester fibre is about 300 denier.
 8. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein selected portions are reinforced.
 9. A garment according to claim 8, wherein the selected portion comprises the polyester fibre and a high tenacity NYLON is CORDURA®.
 10. A garment according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the selected portion is the lower back portion an/or the front knee portion.
 11. A garment according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the high tenacity NYLON is CORDURA®.
 12. A garment according to any preceding claim, including an anti-piling fleece for the comfort of the wearer in a selected area.
 13. A garment according to claim 12, wherein the selected area is the front and rear chest area. 